Vocation refers to one’s “regular employment, calling, business,
profession, or occupation.” In the term “Vocational Service,” Rotary employs the
word “service” in its broadest sense, referring not merely to the merchandise
sold or work done in any business or professional transaction, but also to the
giving of due consideration to the needs and circumstances of the one served and
to the continual thoughtfulness of others.

Vocational Service is stressed in Rotary’s Object in these words: “To
encourage and foster high ethical standards in business and professions; the
recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of
each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society.”

Statement on Vocational Service

Vocational Service is the way Rotary fosters and supports the application
of the ideal of service in the pursuit of all vocations. Inherent in the
Vocational Service ideal are:

1)adherence to, and promotion of, the highest ethical standards in all
occupations, including faithfulness and fidelity to employers, employees, and
associates, fair treatment of them and of competitors, the public, and all those
with whom one has any business or professional relationships;

2)the recognition of the worthiness to society of all useful occupations,
not just one’s own or those which are pursued by Rotarians;

3)the contribution of one’s vocational talents to the problems and needs of
society.

Vocational Service is both the responsibility of a Rotary club and of its
members. The role of the club is to implement and encourage the objective by
frequent demonstration, by application to its own actions, by example, and by
development of projects that help members contribute their vocational talents.
The role of members is to conduct themselves, their businesses, and their
professions in accordance with Rotary principles and to respond to projects
which the club has developed.

Vocational Guidance

The activity of assisting young people in the
selection of careers is an activity of the club vocational service committee. It
is suggested that clubs appoint a career development subcommittee under the
vocational service committee to, among other things, promote, in cooperation
with the youth committee, the activity of assisting young people in the
selection of careers.

Vocational Service Activities

Clubs should
arrange at their own meetings and encourage other groups in their communities to
present programs on cultural, economic, and geographical conditions in other
countries. The purpose of such programs is to help overcome possible
difficulties arising from language barriers and differences in cultural and
social backgrounds as a result of the mass movement of workers from one country
to another. Clubs should consider taking steps to initiate or support citizens’
advisory bureaus for the purpose of assisting new arrivals in the community to
assimilate into their new environment.

The attention of members should be drawn to consideration of the extent
to which the policies of states and governments depend upon negotiations and
agreements between the leaders of trade associations and union leaders, and the
consequent opportunity for club members to strive to play a leading part in
their trade associations and thus to have the possibility of influencing the
establishment of policies in this field.

Rotary clubs are encouraged to establish communication with chambers of
commerce and industry in their communities to explore service opportunities.
When appropriate, clubs should develop service projects which would be more
productive if undertaken jointly. Such projects might include employee training,
post-retirement service opportunities, functional literacy programs, workplace
drug abuse prevention and treatment programs, employment counseling, and
vocational recognition programs.

The dimensions of vocational service are limited only by the imagination
and ingenuity of clubs and Rotarians. Because Rotarians are classified in their
clubs on the basis of their vocations, vocational service is an essential
element in the execution of all Rotary programs; its effect is felt throughout
the other Avenues of Service.

The RI Board urges clubs to obtain the advice of legal or liability
insurance counsel with respect to the need for protection against liability
resulting from vocational service activities, including the desirability of
securing insurance or implementing other risk management practices as
appropriate.

Rotary Volunteers

The Rotary Volunteers program was established to create greater awareness
among Rotarians of the volunteer opportunities within Rotary-sponsored service
projects as well as worthy projects of other organizations. The program assists
clubs and districts in identifying those volunteers possessing expertise and
skills unavailable locally, who can help in the completion of those service
projects. Rotarians and spouses with Rotarians, as well as Rotaractors,
Foundation alumni, and non-Rotarians (where Rotarians are not immediately
available) may participate in the program.

The RI Board has established a limit of up to 1 percent of the total
number of Rotarians in any district who may serve as registered Rotary
Volunteers. In addition, Volunteers are expected to have a proven level of
professional and technical skill and should be a minimum of 25 years of age.

Club presidents and governors should appoint Rotary Volunteer
subcommittees within vocational service committees to enhance the use of
services of Rotarians and non-Rotarians as Rotary Volunteers as well as the
development of projects in which Rotary Volunteers can be utilized. RI maintains
a registry which serves as an information resource for individual Rotarian and
non-Rotarian volunteers and possible community and international service sites,
as well as a resource list of organizations that place, train, or fund
volunteers. Rotarians, qualified Foundation alumni, spouses of Rotarians, and
Rotaractors serving as international volunteers between four to eight weeks may
apply to the “Grants for Rotary Volunteers” program of The Rotary Foundation.
Exceptions may be made by the trustee chairman for non-Rotarians if their
specialized skills and experience are vital for the success of a Rotary service
project.

Vocational Service Month

The RI Board has
established “Vocational Service Month” to be observed annually in October as a
special month devoted to vocational service, to emphasize the involvement of
clubs, and not just individual Rotarians,
in the everyday practice of the ideals of vocational service.

Specific activities recommended to clubs during “Vocational Service
Month” are:

the recognition of a Rotary Volunteer at a
district-level event;

promotion of involvement in Rotary Fellowships;

sponsorship
of a vocational service activity or project; and

promotion of membership development in open
classifications.

Business and
Professional Relations Among Rotarians

The policy of Rotary with regard to business and professional relations
among Rotarians is that a Rotarian should not expect, and far less should a
Rotarian ask for, more consideration or advantages from a fellow Rotarian than
the latter would give to any other business or professional associate. As an
obligation to competitors and in the spirit of vocational service, a Rotarian
shall not grant to a fellow Rotarian privileges that would not normally be
accorded to others with whom the Rotarian has a business or professional
relationship. Any use of the fellowship of Rotary as a means of gaining an
advantage or profit is contrary to the spirit of Rotary. No commercial firm
should sign letters “Yours Rotarily.”